Global Patent Index - EP 3265649 A4

EP 3265649 A4 20181121 - OPTICAL SENSOR FOR DETECTING A PARAMETER OF INTEREST

Title (en)

OPTICAL SENSOR FOR DETECTING A PARAMETER OF INTEREST

Title (de)

OPTISCHER SENSOR ZUR ERFASSUNG EINES PARAMETERS VON INTERESSE

Title (fr)

CAPTEUR OPTIQUE POUR DÉTECTER UN PARAMÈTRE D'INTÉRÊT

Publication

EP 3265649 A4 20181121 (EN)

Application

EP 16762141 A 20160301

Priority

  • GB 201503800 A 20150306
  • US 2016020295 W 20160301

Abstract (en)

[origin: GB2536052A] Optical sensor comprising a length of optical fibre 302, capable of supporting two-way propagation of light, which is interrupted by a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, propagation-direction-selective shunt devices (e.g. optical circulators) 220, 306, 308 disposed along its length. Return optical fibres 222, 318, 324 are respectively coupled to each of the plurality of shunt devices 220, 306, 308 for transmitting backscattered light to detectors associated with each return fibre. A method of detecting a parameter of interest by introducing a probe signal into the optical fibre 302 and measuring the the phase of the backscattered light. A light source 202 may be provided to generate a pulsed optical signal. Optical amplifiers may be provided to amplify the optical signal in the optical fibre 302 or in the return optical fibres 222, 318, 324. The apparatus may be used in conjunction with a coherent optical time domain reflectometer, or in a heterodyne distributed vibration sensing system. Possible applications include wellbore optical sensing systems (102, figure 1) and marine streamer cables (702, figure 9).

IPC 8 full level

E21B 47/00 (2012.01); G01D 5/353 (2006.01); G01H 9/00 (2006.01); G01V 1/40 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP GB US)

E21B 47/00 (2013.01 - EP GB US); G01D 5/268 (2013.01 - GB); G01D 5/35358 (2013.01 - EP US); G01H 9/004 (2013.01 - EP GB US); G01V 1/52 (2013.01 - US); G02B 6/28 (2013.01 - US); G01V 2210/1429 (2013.01 - EP US)

Citation (search report)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR

DOCDB simple family (publication)

GB 201503800 D0 20150422; GB 2536052 A 20160907; CA 2978715 A1 20160915; CN 107532925 A 20180102; EP 3265649 A1 20180110; EP 3265649 A4 20181121; US 2018274953 A1 20180927; WO 2016144620 A1 20160915

DOCDB simple family (application)

GB 201503800 A 20150306; CA 2978715 A 20160301; CN 201680018996 A 20160301; EP 16762141 A 20160301; US 2016020295 W 20160301; US 201615556258 A 20160301